80 The Dumfries Post Office, 1642-1910. 



That were the Petitioners allowed to suggest the sum that might 

 be necessary to provide accomodation which they contemplate 

 they would suggest that a sum between three and four Thousand 

 Pounds would be amply sufficient to defray the expense of the 

 site and erecting the Buildings. 



That were Your Lordships pleased to order an inquiry into 

 the preceding statement the Petitioners will prove the truth 

 thereof. 



May it please Your Lordships to take the premises into your 

 consideration and to grant the prayer of the Petition. 



And the Petitioners will ever Pray. 



(Signed) John Fraser 



Provost and Chief Magistrate." 



No further reference to the Petition appears in the Council 

 Minutes, but it is evident that the Postal authorities had the 

 matter under consideration. 



At the Council meeting on 3rd March, 1843, " The Provost 

 laid before the Coimcil two letters upon the subject of a New post 

 office for the Town from Mr Reeves, Post Office Surveyor. 

 Having considered these communications, it was decided that Mr 

 Reeves should be informed that a New post office had been taken 

 for five years, and that the Council were of opinion that a trial 

 should be given to the New Office. And further procedure 

 delayed as to the building of an office until a future period." 



It seems clear that the expectations in regard to the new 

 office cannot have been realised, for the subject was again brought 

 under the notice of the Council on 4th June, 1847, when, on the 

 motion of Mr Scott, they appointed the following Ccmmittee to 

 meet with Mr Thorburn, the Postmaster, to confer with him as to 

 a more convenient situation for a Post Office, viz. : — Bailie 

 Newall, Bailie Hammond, Bailie Smyth, and Mr Scott — Mr 

 Scott convener. 



Here, for the time being, the matter was allowed to rest. 

 In the following year Dumfries was brought into direct touch 

 with the railway systems of the country, and a new era was 

 opened up for postal developments. 



